Dish-handler



(No Model) M. v. QUINN. DISH HANDLER.

No. 464,777. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY V. QUINN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

DISH-HANDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,777, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed November 8, 1890. Serial No. 370,827. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY V. QUINN, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Dish and Dishcloth Handlers, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for easily, conveniently, and rapidly handling and washing dishes.

The object of the invention is to provide a device similar to a pair of tongs, but having embodying my invention, the jaws thereof being slightly opened. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a view showing a plate inserted between the jaws of the device. Fig. 4 is a front View taken from Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail of the pivot-block.

As shown in the drawings, the device is made up of two general parts adapted to swing upon each other, being fastened together by the pivot 2. Each part is made of a single bent wire, the handles being formed by the loop end thereof. The ends of the Wires are bent out at the points 3 and turned at right angles to the handles. The corrugated plates 5 and 6 are soldered upon the extreme ends 4 of the wires. It will thus be seen that the plates occupy positions at right angles to the plane of the handles. One of these plates is convex, while the other is concave, to suit the curve of most dishes. The main handle is in the form of the large open loop 7, into which the four fingers of the hand may be inserted. The other handle is provided with the opening 8, adapted to receive the thumb, and the end of the handle is made smaller and adapted to rest against the thumb as a support and also to be pressed upon by the tips of the fingers to more firmly hold the device. Another advan tage of this small end 9 is that the dishcloth being wrapped around the same it may be used to wash out the necks of bottles, (to. The outer end-of the lower handle, as shown, is

bent downward, so as to be practically parallel to the downward curve of the upper handle or loop. The sides of each loop are brought together at the pivot-points and soldered together, respectively, so as to form the solid block portions 10 and 11, through which and between the wires the holes for the rivets 2 are arranged. The jaws, as I call the other ends of the device, are quite long, and that numbered 12 of the lower handle is above the other jaw and is bent in the simple curved form shown. The other jaw has the com pound or ogee curve shown, wherebya shoulder is made directly back of the corrugated plates, the same being adapted to engage the shoulder on the dish to prevent the same slipping out, as is indicated in Fig. 3. The inner parts 14 of the jaws are brought quite close together, so that-the edge of a plate or of a cup or other article will surely strike upon .one of the jaws, thereby making three points or bearings upon the dish and insuring its being held firmly.

In addition to the shoulder in the jaw 13, I provide the small shoulder or abrupt end 15 on one or both jaws 5 and 6, the same being a convenient means for engaging the small ribs upon the dishes. The ends of the wires making the jaws are separated quite a distance, as shown, the drawings being about half size, thereby preventing any twisting of the plates while holding heavy dishes.

As shown plainly in Figs. 1 and 2 and as indicated in Fig. 2, the jaw shown as the upper jaw in the drawings is considerably longer than the other jaw. By this construction the picking up of dishes is rendered easy, as the long jaw may be pushed under or over the edge of a dish more readily than if both the jaws were alike in size.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, in a device of the class the jaws formed by the ends of the two loops having the simple and compound curves described, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, in a device of the class described, of the two Wire parts, each formed of a loop of wire, with soldered pivot-block portions, a pivot connecting the same, the ends 12 and 12 of one loop being separated and bent out transversely with respect to said loop, said ends lying in the same plane and having the simple curved shape, the corrugated plate 5, secured upon the ends at 4: of said parts 12, said loop having the thumbloop 8 and the contracted end 9, the fingersloop 7 of the other part, the ends 13 of said part, said ends bent transversely thereto and formed in the compound curve described, and the corrugated plate secured on the MARY V. QUINN. Witnesses:

J. B. QUINN, W. I. llIORGAN. 

